Top 10 Commodore 64 Games: The Best C64 Games Ever!

Games every Commodore 64 owner should play

Every C64 owner will have had their own personal favourites on Commodore’s legendary home computer, and I have drawn up a list of what I believe to be the best. My Commodore 64 Top 10 is based on my experiences of innovative games that, even 40 years later, will spark fond memories of that fantastic breadbin machine.

Back in the day, the home computer wars were fierce. While ZX Spectrum owners boasted about their machine’s affordability and massive software library, and BBC Micro users smugly pointed to their computer’s educational credentials and superior graphics, we C64 owners knew we had the best of both worlds – superior sound courtesy of the legendary SID chip, colourful sprites that put the Spectrum’s attribute clash to shame, and hardware capabilities that evolved throughout the machine’s incredibly long lifespan.

You could claim that I have made some notable exclusions, such as the epic adventure of Maniac Mansion, Defender of the Crown’s cinematic presentation, and various games from the prolific Epyx sports series like Summer Games. All I can say is that this is my list, and I have my reasons for every game included here. Some may surprise you – particularly my choice to crown a controversial platformer that many consider the finest example of its genre on the machine, despite the legal troubles that limited its availability.

Why the Commodore 64 was built for gaming

I have included games spanning the C64’s entire lifespan, from early cassette classics that defined what 8-bit gaming could be, right through to mid-era masterpieces that showcased the platform at its creative peak. While other machines had their strengths, the C64’s combination of superior audio, smooth scrolling capabilities, and vibrant graphics made it the perfect platform for the kind of polished, console-quality experiences that defined the late 1980s. Some of these games faced challenges beyond the technical – legal disputes could make brilliant software disappear from shelves, but couldn’t diminish their impact on those fortunate enough to experience them. Remember this was a time when loading a game meant listening to those distinctive warbling sounds for several minutes – but the wait was always worth it for these classics.

So after much deliberation, here are my Top 10 Commodore 64 games…

10 – Boulder Dash

First Star Software – 1984

Peter Liepa’s underground gem was deceptively simple yet fiendishly addictive. Playing as Rockford the explorer, you had to dig through caves collecting diamonds while avoiding falling boulders and deadly fireflies. What seemed like a straightforward concept revealed incredible depth and strategy.

The physics engine was revolutionary for its time – rocks would fall realistically, creating chain reactions that could either help or hinder your progress. Each of the 16 caves required different tactics, and the construction kit that came with later versions let players create their own challenges.

The game spawned countless imitators but none captured the perfect balance of puzzle-solving and arcade action that made Boulder Dash so compelling. This was gaming at its purest – easy to learn, impossible to master.

”…a brilliant blend of strategy and arcade action”
Zzap!64 Magazine 1984

9 – Elite

Acornsoft/Firebird – 1985

Space trading has never been more addictive than in Elite. This groundbreaking game featured a massive universe with eight galaxies and 2,048 star systems to explore, all squeezed into the C64’s memory through ingenious mathematical generation techniques.

Starting with a basic Cobra Mk III and 100 credits, you had to trade your way up from “Harmless” to the coveted “Elite” rating. The choice was yours – become a peaceful trader, a ruthless pirate, or a bounty hunter taking on the galaxy’s most wanted criminals. The wire-frame 3D graphics were revolutionary, and the sense of freedom was unprecedented in gaming.

Every space-sim that followed owes a debt to Elite’s pioneering design. This is gaming history in the making.

8 – The Last Ninja

System 3 – 1987

Armakuni’s quest for revenge was like nothing seen before on the C64. The Last Ninja combined beautiful isometric graphics with martial arts combat, puzzle-solving, and atmospheric sound design that showed what the SID chip could really do.

Playing as the titular ninja, you fought your way through time from feudal Japan to modern New York, using an innovative control system that made combat feel weighty and deliberate. The game’s presentation was cinematic, with each screen looking like a work of art.

The learning curve was steep – this wasn’t a game you could master in an afternoon – but persistence was rewarded with one of the most atmospheric adventures ever created on 8-bit hardware.

7 – Paradroid

Hewson – 1985

Andrew Braybrook’s robot-blasting masterpiece proved that original gameplay concepts could still emerge from simple premises. Playing as Influence Device 001, you had to clear a spaceship of rogue droids by taking control of them in a unique puzzle-based mini-game.

Each droid had different capabilities, and part of the strategy involved choosing which robots to possess for different situations. The transfer mini-game, where you had to connect circuits faster than your opponent, was genius in its simplicity.

With 20 decks to clear and increasingly dangerous opposition, Paradroid offered perfect arcade action with a strategic twist that kept you coming back for “just one more go.”

6 – California Games

Epyx – 1987

While Summer Games established Epyx’s reputation, California Games perfected their formula. This celebration of 1980s West Coast culture featured six events that captured the laid-back California lifestyle, from skateboarding to surfing.

Each event was perfectly crafted, with the BMX racing and skateboarding events being particular highlights. The game oozed personality, from its sun-drenched graphics to the brilliant soundtrack that made perfect use of the SID chip’s capabilities.

This was gaming as lifestyle statement, and it made everyone want to grab a board and head to the beach. The multiplayer tournaments were legendary, creating friendships and rivalries that lasted for years.

5 – Impossible Mission

Epyx – 1984

“Stay a while… stay forever!” Professor Elvin Atombender’s taunting voice welcomed players to one of gaming’s greatest challenges. This platform-adventure hybrid tasked you with infiltrating the professor’s underground complex to stop his doomsday device.

What made Impossible Mission special was its non-linear structure. You could tackle the rooms in any order, searching for puzzle pieces while avoiding the deadly robots patrolling each area. The digitised speech was groundbreaking for 1984, and the smooth animation made your secret agent character feel incredibly responsive.

The game lived up to its name – this was genuinely difficult, requiring both quick reflexes and puzzle-solving skills. But when you finally cracked that safe combination, the satisfaction was immense.

4 – Wizball

Ocean – 1987

Sensible Software’s psychedelic shooter was like nothing else on the C64. Playing as a wizard transformed into a green bouncing ball, you had to restore colour to a world drained of its vibrancy by an evil force.

The physics-based movement took some getting used to – your wizard-ball bounced constantly, and controlling direction required careful momentum management. But once mastered, the game revealed incredible depth, with different power-ups and the ability to control a cat familiar adding strategic layers.

With its surreal humour, innovative gameplay mechanics, and gorgeous graphics that showcased the restored colours beautifully, Wizball was truly unique. Some might call it weird, but that was precisely its charm.

3 – International Karate + (aka IK+)

System 3 – 1987

The sequel to International Karate refined everything that made the original great and added a crucial third fighter to create the ultimate martial arts experience on the C64. The three-way battles were intense affairs where timing and strategy mattered more than button-mashing.

Each fighter had multiple moves and the animation was smooth and realistic. The backgrounds were gorgeous, from the moonlit temple to the bustling dojo, and the sound effects had real impact. This was as close as you could get to being in a kung-fu movie.

The two-on-one dynamics created unique strategies – sometimes you’d find temporary allies, other times you’d be fighting for your life against two opponents. Every match felt like a story unfolding.

2 – Bubble Bobble

Taito – 1987

Bub and Bob’s quest to rescue their girlfriends created one of the most addictive co-operative experiences ever designed. This deceptively simple platformer had you trapping enemies in bubbles and popping them for points across 100 increasingly challenging levels.

The genius was in the details – the way bubbles behaved, the variety of power-ups, and the intricate level designs that rewarded both cooperation and competition between players. The cute graphics belied a game of surprising depth and challenge.

Playing Bubble Bobble with a friend was gaming perfection. The shared triumphs and disasters, the desperate attempts to save each other from seemingly impossible situations, created gaming memories that lasted a lifetime.

1 – The Great Giana Sisters

Rainbow Arts – 1987

Yes, it was clearly inspired by a certain Italian plumber’s adventures, but The Great Giana Sisters was brilliant enough to stand on its own merits. This platformer featured some of the smoothest scrolling and most responsive controls ever seen on the C64.

Playing as Giana (and later her sister Maria), you explored 32 levels of pure platforming perfection. The power-up system that transformed you from a small girl to a powerful punk was brilliantly implemented, and the level design was consistently excellent throughout.

The soundtrack by Chris Hülsbeck was legendary – catchy tunes that perfectly complemented the on-screen action. Despite the legal troubles that limited its release, those lucky enough to play it knew they were experiencing something special.

This was the C64 at its absolute peak – a game that showed what the machine could do in the right hands.

The best Commodore 64 Games that didn’t make the top 10

There were so many exceptional games for the Commodore 64 that they couldn’t all make it into my top 10. Publishers like Ocean, System 3, and Rainbow Arts produced so many fantastic games that they probably deserve a Top 10 in their own right.

The competition between platforms during the 8-bit era was legendary. While we argued passionately about which machine was superior – Spectrum owners defending their huge game library, BBC Micro users highlighting their machine’s technical prowess, and us C64 enthusiasts pointing to our unmatched audio capabilities – the real winners were the gamers who got to experience this golden age of creativity and innovation.

The best of the rest – Commodore 64 Games

Here are some that could easily have made it into the top 10 list:

• Maniac Mansion – LucasArts’ adventure masterpiece that pioneered the SCUMM interface and launched a thousand point-and-click adventures
• Turrican 2 – Factor 5’s late-era technical masterpiece that pushed the C64 beyond what anyone thought possible, with some of the most impressive graphics and sound ever achieved on 8-bit hardware
• Kick Off 2 – Dino Dini’s football simulation that captured the beautiful game like no other
• Defender of the Crown – Cinemaware’s medieval strategy game that showed what cinematic gaming could be
• Summer Games – The Epyx sports classic that started the Games series phenomenon and revolutionised multiplayer sports gaming

I hope this list inspires you to fire up your C64 emulator and experience these games for yourself. They may be 40 years old, but they remain playable, innovative, and in many cases superior to their modern equivalents.

The Commodore 64 represented the golden age of bedroom programming, when small teams with big ideas could create games that captured the imagination of millions. In the great home computer wars of the 1980s and early 90s, we may have argued endlessly about technical specifications and exclusive titles, but looking back, we were all part of something special. These ten games represent the very best of what the C64 had to offer – a machine that delivered consistently brilliant gaming experiences and proved that great gameplay never goes out of style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the best-selling Commodore 64 game?

While exact sales figures are difficult to verify, games like Summer Games, California Games, and The Bard’s Tale were among the biggest commercial successes. However, “best-selling” doesn’t always mean “best” – many of the most beloved C64 games had smaller commercial runs but huge cultural impact.

How many games were made for the Commodore 64?

Estimates suggest there were between 10,000-15,000 games released for the C64 during its lifespan, making it one of the largest software libraries of any home computer. This includes everything from major commercial releases to homebrew titles and demos.

What made Commodore 64 games different from other platforms?

The C64’s standout feature was its SID sound chip, which delivered music and sound effects far superior to competitors like the ZX Spectrum’s simple beeper. The machine also excelled at smooth scrolling and colorful graphics, though it did suffer from some limitations like sprite flickering when too many objects appeared on screen.

Were Commodore 64 games better than Spectrum games?

This was the source of endless playground arguments! C64 games generally had better sound and smoother graphics, while Spectrum games loaded faster and the platform had a larger overall software library. Many games appeared on both systems, often with notable differences – C64 versions typically had superior audio and visual effects.

Can you still play Commodore 64 games today?

You can use emulators like VICE (free) on modern computers, or purchase mini retro consoles like TheC64 Mini/Maxi. Many classic C64 games are also available on modern platforms through digital stores, though purists prefer the authentic experience of original hardware or accurate emulation.

What was the last game released for Commodore 64?

Commercially, games were still being released into the mid-1990s, and titles like Sam’s Journey (2017) proving the homebrew scene keeps the platform alive. The C64 had an incredibly long commercial lifespan compared to other 8-bit machines.

Why was The Great Giana Sisters banned?

Nintendo’s legal team issued cease and desist orders due to the game’s obvious similarities to Super Mario Bros. This forced Rainbow Arts to halt distribution, making original copies incredibly rare and valuable today. Ironically, this controversy has made it one of the most famous C64 games.

Which Commodore 64 games are worth money today?

Original boxed copies of rare games like The Great Giana Sisters, certain Ultimate titles, and limited releases can fetch hundreds or even thousands of pounds. However, condition is crucial – boxed games in mint condition are worth significantly more than loose cartridges or damaged packaging.

Did the Commodore 64 have better games than consoles?

The C64 competed admirably with consoles of its era like the NES/Famicom. While consoles had some advantages in terms of dedicated gaming hardware, the C64’s computer capabilities allowed for more complex games, better music, and genres like adventure games and simulations that were rare on consoles.

What was the Commodore 64’s biggest advantage over other computers?

The SID sound chip was revolutionary – nothing else in the 8-bit computer world could match its musical capabilities. Combined with competitive pricing, decent graphics, and a huge software library, it made the C64 the complete package for home users who wanted both gaming and computing capabilities.